King Eresoyen introduced the annual Oduduwa ritual, in which seven dancers with helmet masks performed. The name commemorates the king of Ife, who sent his son Oranmiyan to Benin, who is considered the founder of the dynasty that still reigns today. The reference to the founder of the dynasty was intended to strengthen the legitimisation of the kingdom, which had regained strength after the crisis of the 17th century. The proboscis hands protruding from the corners of the mouth point to the special spiritual power of the king.